What are Mentoring OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Writing good OKRs can be hard, especially if it's your first time doing it. You'll need to center the focus of your plans around outcomes instead of projects.
We understand that setting OKRs can be challenging, so we have prepared a set of examples tailored for Mentoring. Take a peek at the templates below to find inspiration and kickstart your goal-setting process.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
How to write your own Mentoring OKRs
Option 1. Turn ideas into OKRs with Tability AI
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here.
You can use Tability's AI generator to create tailored OKRs based on your specific context. Tability can turn your objective description into a fully editable OKR template -- including tips to help you refine your goals.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Click on the "Generate goals using AI" button
- 3. Use natural language to describe your goals
Tability will then use your prompt to generate a fully editable OKR template.
Watch the video below to see it in action 👇
Option 2. Optimise existing OKRs with Tability Feedback tool
If you already have existing goals, and you want to improve them. You can use Tability's AI feedback to help you.
- 1. Go to Tability's plan editor
- 2. Add your existing OKRs (you can import them from a spreadsheet)
- 3. Click on "Generate analysis"
Tability's Strategy Map makes it easy to see all your org's OKRsTability will scan your OKRs and offer different suggestions to improve them. This can range from a small rewrite of a statement to make it clearer to a complete rewrite of the entire OKR.
You can then decide to accept the suggestions or dismiss them if you don't agree.
Option 3. Use the free OKR generator
If you're just looking for some quick inspiration, you can also use our free OKR generator to get a template.
Unlike with Tability, you won't be able to iterate on the templates, but this is still a great way to get started.
Mentoring OKRs examples
You'll find below a list of Objectives and Key Results templates for Mentoring. We also included strategic projects for each template to make it easier to understand the difference between key results and projects.
Hope you'll find this helpful!
OKRs to enhance and streamline mentoring skills and approach
ObjectiveEnhance and streamline mentoring skills and approach
KRCollect and increase feedback score by 20% to measure mentoring effectiveness
Review feedback and create a clear improvement plan- Implement anonymous feedback surveys after each mentoring session
- Encourage honest responses through open communication
- KRComplete two online courses on advanced mentoring strategies for professional growth
- Complete all coursework and assessments by deadlines
- Enroll in chosen courses and schedule study times
- Research and select two advanced mentoring strategy online courses
- KRConduct a minimum of 10 mentoring sessions to improve hands-on experience
- Schedule and conduct 10 mentoring sessions
- Create a comprehensive mentoring program outline
- Identify 10 suitable individuals requiring mentoring
OKRs to implement an effective product science mentoring program
- ObjectiveImplement an effective product science mentoring program
- KRAchieve a 90% participant satisfaction rate in the program
- Implement a feedback system for continuous program improvement
- Adapt program changes based on participant suggestions
- Offer response and resolution to participant concerns promptly
- KRIdentify and train 15 internal employees as mentors by the end of the quarter
- Identify potential mentor candidates from each department
- Plan and implement the mentor training program
- Schedule and conduct training sessions
- KREnsure 80% of participants can demonstrate understanding of product science post-mentoring
OKRs to implement a science mentoring program for skill enhancement
- ObjectiveImplement a science mentoring program for skill enhancement
- KRFinalize and hire 4 experienced mentors within the scientific sector by week 4
- Establish job criteria for experienced scientific sector mentors
- Advertise vacancies on relevant platforms
- Conduct interviews and finalize hires
- KRDevelop a sustainable and comprehensive curriculum focused on scientific knowledge by week 6
- KRRegister at least 30 participants and facilitate their skill development evaluation by week 12
- Plan and implement skill development evaluation
- Register minimum of 30 participants for program
- Advertise participant registration across relevant networks
OKRs to establish insightful scientific mentoring program for laboratory procedures
- ObjectiveEstablish insightful scientific mentoring program for laboratory procedures
- KRAchieve an average score of 4.5 on feedback form regarding program effectiveness
- Offer additional support and resources for participant success
- Regularly evaluate and update the program based on feedback
- Develop high quality, engaging and relevant content for the program
- KRCurate a comprehensive syllabus covering the scientific aspects by week 6
- Arrange topics into a six-week course outline
- Draft detailed weekly lesson plans
- Identify key scientific topics to include in the syllabus
- KRSecure at least 3 experts from relevant scientific fields as mentors
- Draft personalized emails inviting them to mentor
- Schedule and conduct one-on-one meetings with them
- Identify 3 experts in relevant scientific fields
OKRs to to enhance my competence and influence as a reputable Mentor
- ObjectiveTo enhance my competence and influence as a reputable Mentor
- KRSuccessfully mentor 5 individuals in achieving their career goals
- Identify and understand individual goals of each mentee
- Provide regular feedback and guidance on progress
- Develop a customized, achievable success plan for each person
- KRObtain a minimum of 90% satisfaction rate from all mentoring sessions
- Implement suggestions from feedback to improve sessions
- Provide personalized mentoring tailored to individual needs
- Regularly gather feedback from mentees after sessions
- KRAcquire two new relevant certifications to bolster my mentoring credentials
- Register and complete two chosen certification programs
- Research reputable certification programs related to mentoring
- Add completed certifications to professional portfolio
OKRs to reduce student dropout rate by identifying students at risk
- ObjectiveReduce student dropout rate by identifying students at risk
- KRReduce the number of dropouts by 25%
- Provide additional learning disability resources
- Develop an effective student mentoring system
- Implement engaging after-school tutoring programs
- KRImplement student support programs for 80% of at-risk identified students
- Identify 80% of at-risk students through academic and socio-emotional evaluations
- Monitor student progress, adjusting programs as needed
- Develop tailored support programs addressing their specific learning challenges
- KRIncrease identification of potential at-risk students by 30%
- Implement early warning systems for student performance issues
- Train teachers on identifying signs of at-risk behaviors
- Regularly analyze student attendance, grades, and behaviors
OKRs to reduce Employee Turnover
- ObjectiveReduce Employee Turnover
- KRImplement a mentoring program with participation from 75% of employees
- Establish regular check-ins and evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the mentoring program
- Provide training for potential mentors and match them with mentees based on their goals
- Create a program outline with goals and objectives for the mentoring program
- Promote the mentoring program through various communication channels to raise awareness
- KRDecrease voluntary employee resignations by 20%
- Conduct exit interviews to identify and address reasons for voluntary resignations
- Implement a comprehensive employee engagement and retention program
- Enhance communication channels to ensure employees feel valued and heard
- Provide professional development opportunities to ensure employee growth and satisfaction
- KRIncrease employee engagement scores by 10%
- Provide regular opportunities for open communication and feedback between employees and management
- Organize team-building activities to foster collaboration and strengthen relationships among employees
- Conduct anonymous employee survey to identify areas of opportunity for engagement improvement
- Develop and implement a recognition and rewards program to acknowledge employee efforts
- KRImprove manager satisfaction ratings by 15%
- Implement regular feedback sessions to understand manager concerns and address them promptly
- Provide professional development opportunities to enhance manager skills and career growth
- Foster a positive and supportive work environment through team-building initiatives and recognition programs
- Streamline communication channels and ensure clarity in expectations for effective manager-employee interactions
OKRs to successfully mentor a novice product manager
- ObjectiveSuccessfully mentor a novice product manager
- KRFacilitate the prototyping of at least three product ideas under the mentee's lead
- Set review session for prototype evaluation and feedback
- Schedule meeting to discuss and select three product ideas
- Guide mentee in developing detailed product prototypes
- KRDevelop comprehensive training plan focusing on key product management aspects within two weeks
- Identify key aspects of product management for training
- Finalize and approve training plan within two weeks
- Outline a comprehensive training plan
- KRBy quarter-end, achieve a 90% satisfaction rate, assessed by mentee's feedback
- Provide additional resources to meet mentee needs
- Implement suggested improvements from mentee feedback
- Regularly schedule feedback sessions with all mentees
OKRs to cultivate an autonomous, entrepreneurial culture with quick decision-making
- ObjectiveCultivate an autonomous, entrepreneurial culture with quick decision-making
- KRLaunch a mentorship program with 5 internal entrepreneurs and engage 30% of employees
- Identify and select five internal entrepreneurs for mentorship roles
- Promote the program to achieve 30% employee engagement
- Develop a comprehensive mentorship program structure
- KRTrain 80% of team members in decision-making models by end of next quarter
- Monitor and report progress regularly
- Identify existing team members not yet trained in decision-making models
- Schedule suitable training sessions for these members
- KRImplement a system for tracking individual initiatives and achieving 75% utilization
- Measure and attain 75% system utilization
- Establish a robust initiative tracking system
- Train staff on system utilization
Mentoring OKR best practices
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
The #1 role of OKRs is to help you and your team focus on what really matters. Business-as-usual activities will still be happening, but you do not need to track your entire roadmap in the OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to get the full value of your OKRs and make your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to track your Mentoring OKRs
Quarterly OKRs should have weekly updates to get all the benefits from the framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
Most teams should start with a spreadsheet if they're using OKRs for the first time. Then, once you get comfortable you can graduate to a proper OKRs-tracking tool.
If you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Mentoring OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
- OKRs to enhance finance department's risk management initiatives
- OKRs to boost qualified meetings booked by outbound SDR team
- OKRs to enhance organizational performance to high-performing standards
- OKRs to improve efficiency in design and technical drawing management
- OKRs to improve test coverage and automation for proactive debt remediation
- OKRs to implement comprehensively effective PPE procedures